“I’m taking you home right now.” he said without looking at her and was about to turn on the ignition when she stopped him by placing her palm over his hand.
When she touched him, she could feel his hand vibrating with the anger and tension he was feeling and she felt confused really. She could not understand why on earth he would react as much as he had to her over something as trivial as that and even more she was confused at how he had come all the way to the beach just to pull her out. That was certainly the most confusing of everything that had happened. He now stated that she was his own or perhaps she had heard him wrongly but in this mood, it would be best he avoids driving. Claire looked at him as he avoided looking her way. His free hand rested on his jaw, firmly wedged on on the window. She wished he would look at her but then decided to make a move first.
“I’m sorry.” Claire said. She did not know what she was apologizing for precisely but she knew one thing, the apology would serve as a way to get him to calm down his nerves. Tristan then looked at her.
“What are you apologizing for?” he asked her and Claire was feeling lost now
“For… for going out with my brother?” she said as she asked a question
“Now why would I be angry because you went out with your brother?” he demanded
“I don’t know. You came there suddenly and then you… you.. you” she stuttered and decided to keep mute
“Go on. I’m listening.” he said
“I don’t know.” she said calmly but still looking away.
Tristan sighed and then thought that perhaps he was being so hard on her. He best just make it clear to her so he could take her home and hopefully this time, she would sit home and get her rest. Just hopefully.
“Now I was only angry you left off resting.” he said to her
“Huh?” Claire answered obviously surprised as she looked up at him
“You were supposed to be him.” he said to her
“I made the promise to him.” she said
“And you could not reschedule?” he asked her
“Reschedule? That’s impossible. It was a one day thing.” she said
“That also explains why you were frolicking with that guy? Did you also promise that to your brother?” Tristan asked her
“What? No way. Jasper was holding my phone away and I was merely trying to get it from him.” she explained.
Tristan looked at her and sighed loudly. So naive and so innocent were her thoughts that each time it would seem as if he was opening up a new chapter about her. The lady was something really and she was not safe out in this world full of prying wolves. Without him, she could not survive out there and he wanted to believe that it was her safety he worried about so much. He knew that was not the case but he loved to think it was. How on earth could she not see through the dubious eyes of that young man who was full I deceit.
He was finding it a tad bit hard to state his cause without sounding jealous. He did not want to sound jealous. Not at the slightest ways. He could not bring himself down that low being the reason he was trying to source out the right words to tell her.
“Claire I have something to demand of you.” he said to her
“What is it sir?” she asked.
How quickly had she gone back to formalities that made his words die down before he could even say anything. She had successfully ruptured his morale and now he was speechless before her.
“Sir?” he asked her.
Claire realized her mistake and quickly corrected herself. She recalled he had asked they got rid of every formalities between them.
“Tristan.” she said and flashed a small smile
“That’s more like it.” he said to her
“You were saying something.” she reminded him.
Tristan cleared his throat and then decided on what he wanted to say quietly.
“Henceforth, I would rather you keep away from any other man.” he said
“Wait what? I shouldn’t communicate with men? That’s impossible.” she said
“Not in that way. I mean in a way like… like too close.” he said
“Too close. You mean like with Jasper?” she asked
“Exactly. Like Jasper.” he said
“Of course.” she said quickly.
Seeing how relaxed she was, Tristan could tell he had not caught on the meaning of his words yet still. He had hoped she would not make him go through with everything but obviously she would rather he spells it out boldly. Since that was what she wanted, Tristan decided he would in fact make it explicitly clear to her.
“You do not understand.” he said
“How?” she asked
“I mean it this way. I would rather my woman does not let other men touch her.” he said
“Your woman?” she asked wide eyed. This was the second time that evening and yet she wanted it said clearly.
“Yes. You Claire, I have decided to date you.” he said
“As your girlfriend?” she asked
“Yes. As my girlfriend.” he said to her
“But I have not even said yes.” she pointed out
“You have no choice.” he stated vehemently.
Alright, that there was unbelievable. He had made the decision without her and just made it clear he did not care whatever she thought. So long as he was concerned, she was his woman and there was no two ways about it. Claire stared at Tristan for a while and then looked forward. It was getting pretty late as darkness had begun covering the sky. They were still out there in that lonely road when suddenly, her phone started ringing. She was shy when she brought it up and saw the name on the screen. Speak of other men he certainly was warning her about and this should be one. She had been expecting it was her father calling but then she had brought up her phone and she said it was only Jake calling. She looked at Tristan with bold eyes and he was already staring at her.
“Wouldn’t you take that?” he asked
“Su-sure.” she said and was about picking up when he stopped her
“Wait. Who’s that?” he asked
“My friend Jake.” was the honest reply.
His thoughts went straight to the young man whom had dropped her at the restaurant sometime ago. He was angry but tried to hide it. He sure needed to get that guy away from Claire as he had seen how he looked at Claire and even more painful was how she looked at him. She was being friendly with him that day and perhaps had a platonic mind but anyone could identify the chemistry between them both. He was going to sever it for the time frame he was going to be with her.
“Go on. Take your call.” he said like he did not care about Jake.
Claire smiled and then picked up the call. Thanks to the quietness of the place, he could overhear what they were saying. The young man wanted to know if she was back and hearing she was still away expressed his worries. Claire reassured him that she was on her way back already and he said something about he and his mother missing her. Claire assured them that she would definitely be coming over to see them the next day while Tristan started thinking of many a thousand ways to keep her away. Perhaps when he gets back, he would start his plot. He was still thinking when his phone started ringing. It was the doctor whom he had forgotten all about in his frenzy to get to Claire. She got off her call and he picked his own. Without waiting for her to say anything, he told the doctor he was on his way and hung up.
“An emergency?” he asked her
“We best get you home.” he said to her and started the car.
There was an uncomfortable silence between them both as he drove familiar paths until he got to the point where Alfredo had dropped her off as it was on his way. Claire said she could take it from there but he would not hear of it. He was going to drive her all the way home and watch her get inside just to be certain she did not go to see this Jake person behind his back. When he won, she pointed the road to her home to him and he got into it until they came up to where she halted him as her home. Now that was not what he had expected seeing that she was working at such a place as his restaurant as a dish washer. He would ask no questions now he was in a hurry but he certainly was going to pose more questions to her as time goes by. Just when she would get out of the car, Tristan held her back and then kissed her on the lips.